Mechanical power shovel



Feb. 9, 1937. c. E. STOLTZ MECHANICAL POWER SHOVEL 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 22, 1935 I [rm/1w ffiar/as' 5 2/23 hey Feb; 9, 1937. c. E. STOLTZ 7 2,070,415

MECHANICAL POWER SHOVEL Filed April 22 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 was 26 fizz/622W M ZO/W L (Zgrlss g Patented Feb. 9,

1 UNITED srAr mncnmcar. rowan snovnr.

Charles E. Stoltz, Chicago, Ill, assignor to Manv cha Storage Battery Locomotive Company, Chi cago, 111., a corporation of Illinois 7 Application 22, 1935, Serial No. 17,597 8 01am; (Ci.214-131) This invention relates to improvements in mechanical power shovels of the mucking type adapted to shovel in mines under ground and discharge the material shoveled into a car or like'receptacle disposed rearwardly thereof.

Among the objects of my inventionare to provide a new and improved mucking machine of a size which may readily be transferred from one level of the mine to another in a mine cage, which machine is arranged with a view towards vefilciency in operation and compactness, especially in longitudinal and lateral dimensions.

Another object of myinvention is to provide a novel means for moving the forward or ground engaging end of the scoop longitudinally forwardly of the truck forgathering material, .together with a new and improved means for controlling this longitudinal movementof the scoop and movement thereof to a discharge position.

. A prior application, Serial No. 17,419, filed April 20, 1935, discloses a device similar to that shown by my present invention. My present invention, however, differs from my priorinvention in that a different means is shown for operating and controlling operation of the scoop and in that a different centering mechanism operating on different principles from that shown in my prior application is disclosed.

My invention may be more clearly understood with reference to the accompanying drawings,

wherein: i

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a power shovel constructed in accordance with my invention with certain parts broken away and shown in longitudinal section;

Figure 2 is a, top plan view of the machine shown in Figure 1 with certain parts broken away and shown in section; Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially alongllne H of Figure l;

Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views of one of the valves for controlling operation of the machine, showing the valve in different operating positions;

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 1-4 of Figure 5; K Figure 8 is a detail view showing one means of operating the valve illustrated in Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary top plan view of the machine shown in Figure l, with the shovel frame positioned to one side of the center line of the'truck and with the shovel and supporting beams therefor broken away, to illustrate certain details of the centering mechanism;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view showing certain details of the centering mechanism, not shown in Figure 9; and

Figures 11 and 12 are diagrammatic views showing certain stages of the operating cycle of the machine illustrated in Figure -1.'

Like reference ,characters refer to like parts throughout thevarious figures. a In the drawings, the embodiment of my invention illustrated includes a truck Ill which comprises a frame l2 mounted on track wheels M,

M and axles i5, H5 in a suitable manner. A turntable or shovel supporting frame l1 is mounted on said truck frame for movement with respect thereto about a vertical axis disposed adjacent the center of said truck frame. Said turntable forms a supporting means for a scoop l8 and the operating mechanism therefon.

' The machine is propelled along the rails from working place to working place and fed into the material it is desired to load during the gathering and loading operations by means of a suitable motor 20 mounted on and extending downwardly from the truck frame l2. Said motor may be of any type well known to those skilled in the art, but is herein preferably shown as being an air-motor of an ordinary construction. The drive from said motorto the track wheels includes a chain and sprocket drive generally indicated by reference character 2i, operatively connected with the front track wheels, and a chain and sprocket drive generally indicated by reference character 23, connected between the front and rear track wheels. The machine may thus be readily moved from working place to working place.

The turntable or shovel frame I! includes a plate 24 pivotally mounted on a boss 25 extend- .piate. The under side of said plate is supported on suitable balls carried in an annular race or guideway 29 having an, outer diameter substan- 'tially equal to the width of said truck frame. A

retaining plate 30 is secured to the top of said boss by means of suitable cap screws, and abuts the upper surface of the plate 24 to hold said plate from upward movement with respect to said boss.

The-scoop I8 is supported on the turntable II by means of a pair of parallel-spaced beams 3|, 3!. Said-beams are freely mounted-on a transverse shaft 33 which shaft, as herein shown, is

- held from lateral movement with respect thereto.

mounted adj acent its ends in the hubs of parallelspaced vertically disposed gear sectors 34, 34. Said gear sectors are arranged inwardly of the side plates 26, 26 and are secured to the bottom plate 24. Said shaft is so arranged that its longitudinal center line is adjacent but rearwardly.

ofthe transverse center line'of said turntable.

The scoop is provided with a bracket 85 extending rearwardly therefrom adiacent the upper end thereof. The outer sides of said bracketare adapted. toabut the inner sides of the beams 3i, 3| adjacent the free ends thereof and said bracket is pivotally secured to'said beams by means of a transverse shaft 36 extending therethrough and in a suitable manner. Said scoop depends from the free ends of said beams when extending for-:

wardly of said frame and a forward digging edge 37 of said scoop is adapted to engage and be slidably moved along the ground.

Suitable means are provided for pivoting the scoop about its axis of pivotal connection to said beams and moving said scooplongitudinally shaft is journaled in and extends beyond the outer I sides of said beams, and has a pair of spur gears 43, 43 secured to the outer ends thereof which .stantial distance when the forward end of said mesh with the teeth of the gear sectors 34, 3d for swinging said beams about their axis of pivotal connection to said turntable, in a manner which will hereinafter be more fully described.

The piston 39 isprovided with a forwardly extending piston rod 44 which has its free end pivotally connected to a transverse shaft 35. Said shaft is mounted in a pair of parallel-spaced brackets 41, 41 extending rearwardly from said scoop and spaced beneath the bracket 35 a subscoop is positioned adjacent the ground. Said shaft extends beyond said brackets and beyond the sides of said scoop and has rollers 48, 48 journaled on its ends which are adapted'to engage guide cams 49,49 secured to and extending inwardly from the side plates 26, 26 to form a means for supporting said scoop during the discharge operation, in a manner similar to that described in my aforementioned prior application.

The outer side of said 'cylinderis provided with oppositely disposed laterally extending projections 50, 50 extending longitudinally therealong which are adapted tobe engaged by slots 5| formed; in guiding members 53, 53 pivotally mounted on the shaft 45 for guiding said cylinder.

The means for swinging said beams about the axis of the shaft 33 includes a motor 54 mounted on the turntable adjacent the rearward) end thereof. Said motor is herein preferably shown as being-a motor of the fluid pressure type and is provided with a motor shaft 55 having a sprocket 51 secured thereto. Said sprocket drives a. sprocket 59'k'eyed to the transverseshaft 33 through a 'drive, chain 60. A sprocket 5| is disposed adja-- cent the sprocket 59, and is herein shown as being formed integral therewith. The sprocket 6| is posed shaft 4l for rotating said shaft and the spur gears 43, 43 by means of a chain and sprocket drive, generally indicatedby reference character 63. Thus, when the motor is driven in one direction, said spur gears travel along the teeth of said gear sectors and pivot said beams in an upward direction to elevate the scoop above the ground and move it toward the rearwardend of said truck, and said spur gears move said scoop in an oppositedirection to an initial loading posi tion when said motor is reversely driven.

The motor 54 and cylinder 38 are controlled through a single operating lever by a novel valve arrangement which consists of a valve Ma which controls starting and stopping and reversing of the motor, and a valve 54b which controls the admission of pressure into or the release of pressure from the cylinder 38. Said valves are best illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 7, and as herein shown, include an upper body portion 65 and a lower body 66 threaded therein. Said upper body is provided with a conical bore which converges towards its upper end and has a frusto conical plug 5? rotatably mounted therein Said plug has a valve stem 69 passing therethrough and freely mounted therein which stem is a portion of the valve 541). A port ill in the form of a segment of an annular ring is formed in said plug and .communicates ,with a high pressure line H. When said plug is positioned as shown in Figure 7, the valve 64a. is in a closed position, and when turned in one direction pressure is permitted to enter a pressure line 13 for ,driving the motor in one direction, and when turned in an opposite direction pressure is'permitted to enter a pressure line 14 for drivingsaid motor in an opposite direction.

The valve stem 69 extends into a chamber 15 of the valve Mb and has a port 16 communicating' with the port in the plug 61 and the supplyline. The port 16 communicates with a port ll in a tapered plunger 79 secured to the lower end of said valve stem. Said plunger is adapted to engage a frusto conical bore of a frusto conical plug 8i. Said plug is movable within a frusto conical portion 83 of thechamber 15. An exhaust port 84 communicates with the chamber andis closed by the plug 8| when moved upwardly by means of a spring 85 engaging the under surface thereof. A pressure outlet 81 communicates with a pressure line 88 which line in turn communicates with the cylinder 38. It mayjhus be seen that pressure is'admitted to said pressure line when the valve stem 69 is moved in an upward direction against a compression spring '89 to the position shown by dotted lines in Figure 5, in which position the exhaust port 84 is closed by the plug ill and said plunger is unseated from said plug.

An operating lever,9lI-is pivoted intermediate its ends on a bracket 9| secured to and extending from the upper end of the plug 61. bracket is keyed to said plug so that pivotal movement thereof will pivot said plug. Said lever has a bifurcated end which engages a collar 9'3 mounted in a groove 94in,the upper end of the valve stem 69. Thus, pivotal movement of said Said operating lever about one axis will pivot the plug 61 to operatethe motor 54 and pivotal movement of said operating lever about its axis of pivotal connectionto the bracket 9! will raise or lower trated in Figure 1, pressure is usually applied to the cylinder 38 to extend the piston rod 4.4 therefrom and pivot the scoop about its axis of pivotal connection to said beams and move said scoop longitudinally forward of the truck. At the same time the motor is started and said beams and scoop are moved in an upward direction, pressure being held in said cylinder during such upward movement until the rollers 48. on the ends Pressure'is released from thecylinder 3 8 at a predetermined point by means of a cam member 99 keyed to the shaft 33 inwardly of the right hand arm 3i. Said cam member is adapted to engage an inwardly extending end of a depending lever arm lllllpivoted to the right hand side plate 26 at a point spaced from but adjacent and in alignment with theupper end of the valve stem 69. and extends forwardly from the upper end of said lever arm and engagesthe upper end oi the valve ,stem 69 for operating the valve Mb.

" Thus, engagement of said am! by said cam moves said valve stem in a downward direction to the "position shown in Figure 6, for exhausting pressure from thecylinder 38 and permitting said rollers to ride on and support the forward end of the scoop on the supporting guides th'tt.

The relationship of said cam with respect to said beam is such that pressure is exhausted from said cylinderrwhen said rollers are at the-forward end of said supporting guides.

The supporting guides or cams t9, 69 are inclined upwardly towards the rearward end of the side plates 2t, 26 in a'manner similar to that disclosed in my aforementioned prior applioa-- the inner side of each side plate it beneath the supporting guides dd, 69. .Said stops are pivoted to said side plates by means of pivotal pins Hi5, ltd and their upper end is slidable in a guide its.

A compression spring it! is interposed between a fixed lug ltd on' each side plate and a lug its extending rearwardly from said step to provide a cushioning effect for said scoop at discharge.

Movement of said beams in a forward direction from the discharge position (indicated by broken lines in Figure 1) causes said scoop to be lowered alongthe supporting guides. ltd, IM to an initial.

gathering position, such as is illustrated by'solid lines in Figure 1, in a manner similar to that described in my aforementioned prior application.

The distance of the engaging end of the scoop above the ground may be adjusted by means of the piston 39 and supporting beams 3i, dl. if

desired, suitable adjustable stops may be provided for the supporting beams 3i, 3i to form a positive means for stopping the forward end of said scoop in the proper relationship with respect to the ground.

The tumtable I1 is herein preferably shown as being manually operated, and a hand grip lid is provided for this purpose. Said hand grip. as

herein shown, comprises a vertical shaft Ill of the shaft 45 engage the supporting guides 49,

An-arm i0! is formed integral with mounted at its ends in brackets m, to and extending outwardly from the right hand side plate 20 A cylinder I I3 closed at its ends ll! secured encircles said shaft.and forms a gripping means.

Compression springs ill, I ll are interposed between a stop illsecured to the center of said shaft and the closed ends; of said cylinder, to permitsaid cylinder to be yieldably moved along said shaft and return it to a central position when hand pressuregis released-therefrom. An arm H6 extends from the lower closed end of said cylinder along the side plate 26 in a-rearward direction and has an inwardly extending bifurcated end which extends through a vertical slot formed in said side plate. A valve operating lever I ii is pivotally mounted betweensaid bifurcated ends of said arm and forms a means for operating a valve H8 for controlling operation of the motor 20. Saidvalve'has pressure lines lid and Ill! leading therefrom which are connected to the motor 20 in such a manner that when air isadmitted to the pressure line 9 said motor is rotated in one direction, and is reversed when air is admitted to the pressure line 1120. Said valve is connected to the high pressure supply line by means of a pressure line Hi. When the hand grip I I0 is midway between the brackets H2, H2, the valve lid is in aneutral position. When said hand grip is moved in an upward direction, the motorm is rotated in one direction and when it is moved to a lower position 'said motor is drivnl in an opposite direction.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the.

truck and scoop it may be controlled in a simplifled manner with a minimum amount of controlling levers and that one handle serves to control longitudinal movementof thescoop and swinging movement of the scoop supporting beams,.whiie another handle serves to swing the turntable in one direction or another and controls movement of the truck along the track in one direction or another.

Referring now in particular to the novel centering mechanism for aligning the turntable with the truck frame when the scoop is in adischarge position, the transverse shaft 33 has a threaded member l22 keyed thereon. Said threaded member extends between the beams 3i, 3! and is threaded in opposite directions from the center thereof. A pair of nuts its, l23 is threaded on said threadedmember. Said nuts are adapted to move along said threaded member in opposite directions upon rotation of the shaft 33 in one direction and are positioned adjacent the insides of said beams when the. scoop is in alowered position. A lug l2 l extends upwardly from the truck frame it through an arcuate slot formed in the plate 26. Said lug is adapted to he engaged by depending projections lit, l2? from the nuts I28, I23. Thus, the turntable may be pivoted to one side or the other of the center line of truck until one of the depending projections I26 engages the lug J25. .Upon movement of the beams M, M in an upward direction, the shaft 33 and threaded member I22 will be driven by-the motor in one direction which will cause the nuts i23, l23 to be moved toward the center of said shaft. As said nuts approach the. center said beams reach the extreme upper position 76 illustrated in Figure i. At this position both of l the depending projections I26 will be in engage-" ment with the lug 226 which will lock the turntable in an aligned position with respect to the shaft and movement of said beams in an opposite direction, will cause said nuts to move outwardly along said shaft-until positioned along 'theinsides of said beams, at which point the scoop will be in the position illustrated by Figure 1, and the turntable will be free to move, so as to position said scoop to'one side or the other of the track.

Suitable means are provided for locking the scoop in a retracted position with respect to the truck when it is desired to place it on a page to be moved from one level in the mine to another. Said means, as herein shown, comprises a plurelity of aligned apertures 32?, 82'! formed in the side plates 2%, 26 between the supporting guides 49 and 59 2. I Said apertures may be engaged by suitable pins, indicated by reference character 328 and shown in Figure 12, which pins are adepted to be positioned so as to engage the lower or forward sides of the brackets 41, $1 to permit.

said scoop to rest thereon and lock said scoop and the shovel operating mechanism so that it is entirely within the forwardand rearward boundaries of said side plates.-

While I-have herein shown and described one form in which my invention gmay be embodied, it will be understood that the construction and arrangement of the various parts may be changed or altered without, departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Furthermore, -I do not wish to be-construed as limiting myself to the precise construction illustrated excepting as it may be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a

frame, 'a beam horizontally pivoted on said frame,

a scoop pivoted on the free end of said beam and depending therefrom, means for swinging said beam, fluid pressure means operable independently of said beam swinging means for pivotally moving said scoop forwardly of said frame for engagement with a, pile of loose materialcomprising a cylinder and piston interposed between said beam and scoop, means for applying pressure to said cylinder including a fluid pressure valve, and means operable upon movement of said beam to a predetermined position for opcrating said valve and releasingpress'ure from said cylinder. s t

'2. In an apparatus of the class described, a frame, a beam horizontally pivoted on said frame, a scoop pivoted on the free end of said said beam, and valve operating mechanism adapted to be engaged by said cam member.

,3. In a. shoveling machine of "the class described, the combination of a track-mounted frame, a beam horizontally pivoted on said frame, a scoop pivoted on the free end of said beam and depending therefrom, a fluid pressure motor on said frame, a drive connection from said motor for swinging said beam including an arcuate 5 rack and a gear on said beam driven bysaid motor and meshing therewith, fluid pressure means operable independently ofv said beam for moving said scoop forwardly of said frame for engagement with a pile of loose material compris- :0

'ing a cylinder and piston interposed between said beamand scoop and having pivotal connection with said scoop at a point disposed beneath the point of pivotal connection of said beam to said operable upon movement of said beam to a predetermined position for operating said valve and releasing prwure from saidnylinder.

i. Ina shoveling machine of the class dc- 2d scribed, the combination of a track-mounted frame,- a beam horizontally pivoted on said frame,

'-a scooppivoted on the free end of said beam and depending therefrom, a. fluid pressure moto! on said frame, a drive connection from said 25 motor for swinging said beam including an arcuate rack and a gear on said beam driven by said motor and meshing therewith, fluid pressure means operable independently of said beam for moving said scoop forwardly of said frame 30 scoop, means for applying pressure to said cyll5 inder including a fluid pressure valve, and means beneath the point of pivotal connection of said beam to said scoop, means for applying pressure to said cylinder including a fluid pressure valve,

and means operable upon movement of said beam to a predetermined position for operating said comprising a cam member arranged coaxial with the axis of pivotal movement of said beam, and valve operating mechanism adapted to be eng'aged by said cam member.

5. In a shoveling machine of the class de- 45 scribed, the combination of a truck, a beam horizontally pivoted on said truck, a scoop pivoted on the free; end of said beam and depending therefrom, a fluid pressure motor on said truck, a

pendentlyof said beam for moving saldscoop forwardly of said truck for engagement with a 55 pile of loose material comprising a cylinder and piston interposed between said beam and scoop and having pivotal connection with said scoop at a point disposed beneath the point of pivotal connectioniof said beam to said scoop, means for no applying pressure to said cylinder including a fluid pressure valve, another valve for operating said motor, and a common operating lever for said valves whereby both of said valves may be independently or one hand. v

6. In a shoveling machine'o! the' class described, a truck including aframe mounted on track wheels and axles, a turntable on said frame, a beam pivoted on said turntable for movement abouts, horizontal transverse axisdisposed adjacent the-central portion thereof, a

scoop depending from and pivoted on the free valve and releasing pressure from said cylinder 4,0

drive connection from said motor for swinging :50 said beam including an arcuate rack and a gearon said beam driven bysaid motor and meshing therewith, fluid pressure means operable indesimultaneously, operated with 5 end of said beam, a fluid pressure motor on"sa idl P l turntable, a drive connection from said motor 7 for swinging said beam including an arcuate rack and a gear journaled on said beam meshing therewith, a fluid pressure cylinder and piston interposed between said beam and scoop and having pivotal connection with said scoop at a point disposed beneath the point of pivotal connection' of said beam to saidscoop for engaging said scoop with a pile of material, a fluid pressure motor on said truck for driving said truck or holding said truck from movement during the loading operation, a valve for operating said motor, and means for operating said valve comprising a handle on said turntable, so arranged that pressure thereon in one direction will turn said turntable, and pressure in another direction will operate said valve.

7. In a shoveling machine of the class described, a truck including a frame mounted on track wheels and axles, a turntable on said frame, a beam pivoted on said turntable for movement about a horizontal transverse axis disposed adjacent the central portion thereof, a scoop depending from and pivoted on the free end of said beam, a fluid pressure motor on said turntable, a drive connection from said motor for swinging said beam including an arcuate rack and a gear journaled on said beam meshing therewith, a fluid pressure cylinder and piston interposed between said beam and scoop and having pivotal connection with said scoop at a point disposed beneath the-point of pivotal connection of said beam to said scoop for engaging said scoop with a pile of material, a pair of valves for operating said scoop and motor, an-

.frame, a beam horizontally pivoted on said frame,

a scoop pivoted on the free end of said beam and depending therefrom, a fluidpressure motor on said frame, a drive connection from said motor for swinging said beam including an arcuate rack and a gear on said beam driven by said motor and meshing therewith, fluid pressure means operable independently of said beam for moving said scoop forwardly of said frame for engagement with a pile of loose material comprising a cylinder and piston interposed between said beam and scoop and having pivotal connection with said scoop at a point disposed beneath the point of pivotal connection of said beam to said scoop, means for applying pressure to said cylinder including a fluid pressure valve, and

means for operating said motor comprising another valve associated with said first-mentioned valve, said valves being arranged along a common valve stem, and a common operating member for selectively. operating both of said valves with one hand.

CHARLES E. STOL'IZ. 

